Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-30
is TITO HELP HENNEPIN?
at Peoria September I1--What Maj.
Hamburg Says.

The waterway Convention to be Held
at Peoria September what Maj.
Hamburg Says.
The ARGUS has heretofore spoken OF
the waterway convention to be held at
Peoria September II. From the fact
that the mayor of Rock Island has been
formally invited not only to be present at
that convention in his own official capaci
ty, but to have as many delegates present
from the county at large as possible, it
would seem that the Hennepin interests,
so important to this community and the
northwest in general, are to be consid-
cred. Certainly no waterway improve
ment in the west can be contemplated
without consideration of the Hennepin
canal. 1t is a measure of so many years
standing and its Importance and necessl>
ty has been so deeply impressed upon the
people of the northwest. that any work
of the government looking to the i'm
movement of the natural water courses
and the construction of the artificial
links IN the chain of water transportation
cannot be considered without the bring
ing UP of this project. The measure.
too, probably has more friends in the
country, and in Illinois especially
than any other contemplated water i'm
provement that has ever been before the
public and IT has come nearer receiving
favorable action at the hands of congress
than any public measure that has attract
ed the attention of that body. 1t is liv-
ing issue whose friends are as active to-
day as ever. and an issue that will take
a position second to no other water I'M
proyement until the desired ends are ac>
complished.
Referring to the call issued for the
Peoria convention, Maj Hamburg, United
States engineer, is reported as saying
1T is right movement and l hope i
will be productive of good results. What
is now wanted is an appropriation to con
meet the river with the lake and thereby
complete the navigable waterway, thu
importance of which cannot be overesti
mated. The only fear have of its de
feat is that politicians who are riding tn
Hennepin Hobby will not permit it to g
through without being saddled with thei
pet scheme. If they could only have tn
good sense TO hold off little it would b
all the better for them, for the Hennepi
canal can never be a success until thi
connection with the lake is established
That is the first thing to be done.
Really" continued Mr.. Hanbury, g
think the citizens are right in taking u
this matter. 1t concerns not only tn
state of Illinois, but all states borderin
on the Mississippi, every one of whic
will be benefited by the successful ou
come of the project
Either Maj. Hamburg misunderstood
the purpose of the Peoria convention, Q
there is an inclination to deceive tn
public in the purposes of the convention
The inference to be drawn fro
the call is that there will be as muC
to interest the friends of Hennepin
that convention as any other project ar
the probabilities are that Maj, Hamburg
if he has used the language credited
him, has simply seized upon an opport
nifty to give the canal drive. The Unit
States engineers who have been entrust
with surveys pertaining to the canal ha
never been any too friendly toward it, al
if the canals fate rested with the eng
neers alone it would have been de
issue long since. On the other hand if
has not been Justly and truly represented
the reports of the engineers employed
investigate and report upon it, the SIN
majority which has opposed it in &C
gress would easily have been overcome
As it is, the canals friends are not di
couraged, and those friends who ha
been true to it from the first will contIn
to guard and further its interests III
congress is so far considerate of the Co
mercial advantages of the northwest
to provide for its construction. Hem
pins friends believe they have been
vited to take part in that waterway CO
vention at Peoria. and they will be the